Biological sciences

PARsing embryonic polarity

Article Abstract:

Embryonic polarity and the PAR-1 molecule, the first to be found to play an important and perhaps conserved role in both D. melanogaster and C. elegans, are discussed in this minireview article. It is interesting to consider whether conserved mechanisms used for establishing embryonic polarity exist. The most significant blank space in understanding the function of PAR proteins has been information that links them to downstream localization events, that explains how they mediate asymmetric distribution of other molecules.

The Drosophila homolog of C. elegans PAR-1 organizes the oocyte cytoskeleton and directs oskar mRNA localization to the posterior pole

Article Abstract:

The C. elegans Drosophila PAR-1 homolog organizes the oocyte cytoskeleton. It also directs oskar mRNA localization to the posterior pole. Also, par-1 mutants have a novel polarity phenotype in which bicoid mRNA accumulates normally at the front, and oskar mRNA is pushed to the center of the oocyte, resulting in patterning defects of the embryo. A molecular parallel exists between anterior-posterior polarization in Drosophila and C. elegans.

Three-dimensional structure of a complex between the death domains of Pelle and Tube

Article Abstract:

A complex between the death domains of Pelle and Tube is discussed relative to its 3-D structure. In vivo assays of the mutants of Pelle and Tube show that integrity of the major heterodimer interface is vital to their activity. Pelle is a serine-threonine kinase and Tube is an adaptor protein. Through their N-terminal death domains, interaction leads to the nuclear translocation of the transcription factor Dorsal and activation of zygotic patterning gene in Drosophila embryogenesis.